Shingles
Also called: herpes zoster
A viral infection that causes a painful rash, also called shingles.
- Preventable by vaccine
- Treatable by a medical professional
- Requires a medical diagnosis
- Lab tests or imaging rarely required
- Short-term: resolves within days to weeks
Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who's had chickenpox may develop shingles. It isn't known what reactivates the virus.
Most commonly, shingles causes a painful rash that may appear as a stripe of blisters that wraps around the side of the torso. Sometimes the shingles rash occurs around the eye or one side of the neck or face.
There is no cure for shingles. Early treatment with prescription antiviral medicine may speed healing and lower the risk of complications. A prescription medicine also may help with pain. A shingles vaccine may help prevent shingles. It also can reduce the severity of the disease and lower the risk of a complication called postherpetic neuralgia.
Common: More than 200,000 US cases per year
Consult a doctor for medical advice
Sources: Mayo Clinic and others. Learn more
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Shingles is a painful rash illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Protect yourself from serious complications by getting vaccinated. View All ...
May 10, 2024 · Shingles is a painful rash illness. People get shingles when the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which causes chickenpox, reactivates in their bodies.
Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection that causes an outbreak of a painful rash or blisters on the skin. It's caused by the varicella-zoster virus, ...
Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is a viral syndrome caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. After an episode of varicella (chicken-pox), ...
Varicella-zoster is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses. This is the same group that includes the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes.
Jul 21, 2021 · Herpes zoster is an infection that results when varicella-zoster virus reactivates from the dorsal root ganglia.
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a localized area.
Apr 20, 2024 · What is shingles? Shingles (herpes zoster) is an infection that causes a painful rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
Apr 11, 2023 · Herpes zoster, or shingles, is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which causes chickenpox when first infected. Once ...
Apr 1, 2024 · Shingles is an infection caused by a virus. The main symptom is a painful rash. The virus that causes shingles is called varicella zoster.
